What Backyard Chickens Should and Should Not Eat
At Rent Backyard Hens we receive a lot of questions regarding what the hens should and should not eat when it comes to table scraps and what may be found growing in the yard. I love this question because it shows that our customers truly care about the health and well-being of the hens and what ultimately may get passed to humans through their eggs. As such, we've provided a list of foods that are considered healthy for chickens to eat and a list of food items that are best avoided. Please feel free to comment if we've left anything out - this post is considered a work in progress. Until then, happy pecking :)
Safe For Chickens
- Almonds / Almond Butter
- Apples
- Bananas (and peel)
- Basil
- Beans (cooked)
- Beets
- Blueberries
- Bread
- Carrots
- Celery
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Greens: lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, and carrot greens
- Meat - pieces of cooked fish, beef, and pork cut up into small bites. In moderation, meat is good protein for the hens. No raw meat, please.
- Mushrooms (that are safe for humans to eat)
- Oatmeal
- Pasta (cooked)
- Peanut Butter
- Peas (raw, dried, or cooked)
- Raisins
- Rice (cooked)
- Squash (winter and summer)
- Stone Fruits (no seeds or pits)
- Strawberries
- Most Vegetables (raw or cooked)
- Wheat
Not Safe for Chickens
- Acorns
- Alcohol
- Apple seeds (in excess)
- Avocados and avocado skins and pits
- Beans (dry)
- Butter
- Cherry pits
- Chocolate
- Citrus
- Coffee grounds / caffein
- Eggs (raw)
- Fast Food
- Fried food
- Green onions
- Moldy bread
- Nightshade leaves (leaves from tomato plants, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers)
- Onions
- Potatoes (raw/uncooked)
- Potato peels (raw)
- Processed foods
- Raw meat
- Rhubarb
- Salt (in excess)
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Stone fruit pits and seeds
- Wild mushrooms